Nanocarriers possessing components with different rates of release

Abstract

This invention relates to compositions, and related methods, of synthetic nanocarriers that comprise immunomodulatory agents and antigens that are differentially released from the synthetic nanocarriers.

1 . A composition comprising:
 synthetic nanocarriers that comprise:   (a) an immunomodulatory agent coupled to the synthetic nanocarrier; and   (b) an antigen coupled to the synthetic nanocarrier;   wherein the immunomodulatory agent and antigen dissociates from the synthetic nanocarrier according to the following relationship:
   IA(rel) %/ A (rel) %≥1.2
 
   wherein IA(rel) % is defined as a weight of immunomodulatory agent released upon exposure of the synthetic nanocarrier to an in vitro aqueous environment at a pH=4.5 for 24 hours divided by the sum of the weight of immunomodulatory agent released upon exposure of the synthetic nanocarrier to an in vitro aqueous environment at a pH=4.5 for 24 hours plus a weight of immunomodulatory agent retained in the synthetic nanocarrier upon exposure of the synthetic nanocarrier to an in vitro aqueous environment at a pH=4.5 for 24 hours, expressed as weight percent, and taken as an average across a sample of the synthetic nanocarriers; and   wherein A(rel) % is defined as a weight of antigen released upon exposure of the synthetic nanocarrier to an in vitro aqueous environment at a pH=4.5 for 24 hours divided by the sum of the weight of antigen released upon exposure of the synthetic nanocarrier to an in vitro aqueous environment at a pH=4.5 for 24 hours plus a weight of antigen retained in the synthetic nanocarrier upon exposure of the synthetic nanocarrier to an in vitro aqueous environment at a pH=4.5 for 24 hours, expressed as weight percent, and taken as an average across a sample of the synthetic nanocarriers.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the immunomodulatory agent is coupled to the synthetic nanocarrier via an immunomodulatory agent coupling moiety. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the immunomodulatory agent is encapsulated within the synthetic nanocarrier. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is coupled to the synthetic nanocarrier via an antigen coupling moiety. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is encapsulated within the synthetic nanocarrier. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a B cell antigen. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the B cell antigen is an antigen derived from an infectious agent. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the B cell antigen is a poorly immunogenic antigen. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the B cell antigen is an abused substance or a portion thereof or an addictive substance or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the B cell antigen is a toxin or hazardous environmental agent. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the B cell antigen is an allergen, a degenerative disease antigen, a cancer antigen, an atopic disease antigen, or a metabolic disease antigen. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is a T cell antigen. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the immunomodulatory agent is an adjuvant. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the adjuvant comprises a Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the TLR agonist is an imidazoquinoline. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the TLR agonist is an immunostimulatory nucleic acid. 
     
     
         22 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A composition comprising a vaccine comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         37 . A method comprising:
 administering the composition of  claim 1  to a subject.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the composition is in an amount effective to induce or enhance an immune response. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the subject has cancer, an infectious disease, a non-autoimmune metabolic disease, a degenerative disease, or an addiction.